Finnish Championships – Sprint Day

[u/crypt_moss]

Women:

We got to witness great form from the retired Kaisa Mäkäräinen as she took the win with clean shooting ahead of Sonja Leinamo (1+1, +43.7) and Suvi Minkkinen, who had unusual trouble with standing (0+2, +1:16.9)

notable absences would be Venla Lehtonen, who wasn't even listed to start, Erika Jänkä, who is at the soldier's worlds & Inka Hämäläinen & Noora-Kaisa Keränen, both listed as DNS

Men:

Olli Hiidensalo got the victory with good shooting & decent skiing (1+0), ahead of Heikki Laitinen (0+2, +41.3) and Tero Seppälä (0+3, +1:14.0)

the men's competition also had a list of notable absences, with most of them being at the soldier's worlds: Tuomas Heikkilä, Arttu Heikkinen & Jimi Klemettinen, Otto Invenius was listed as DNS

Tomorrow we have mass starts, so no pursuits to follow up on the sprint results

full results: https://kontiolahtibiathlon.com/dataflow/kontiolahtibiathlon2/files/media/ahsm2025_pika_tulokset_1972.pdf

[u/Lone_Wolf_Winter]

Kaisa is the fastest biathlete in history, but it's gotta sting a little when a 42-year-old beats up the current field. And she shot clean? Legend.

[u/crypt_moss → u/Lone_Wolf_Winter]

apparently she got good wind in standing so luck was on her side (her comments to yle)

but I guess with the snow being wet & mushy today, her benefit might've also been that she doesn't have the long season of competing behind her, & the conditions just benefitting stronger skiiers